MEC expands Rural Horse Riding Programme with Nquthu Race

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THE MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation in KwaZulu-Natal, Bongi Sithole-Moloi, says the Department of Sport and Recreation will focus its programmes on developing sports in rural areas in order to give more opportunities to young people to participate in different sport codes.

MEC Sithole-Moloi was speaking at eNcome, in Nquthu, northern KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday, 13 May, where she officially launched the Nquthu Rural Horse Riding (RHR) competition, which will now be an annual event. The event was attended by hundreds of people who braved the chilly winter weather to witness the launch.

The Nquthu event comprised of six races featuring horses and jockeys from the Umzinyathi District.

MEC Sithole-Moloi said the introduction of the Nquthu horse racing contest is part of the Department’s plans to expand the footprint of the RHR programme to include other districts that do not have such events.

“We have seen how the Dundee July has grown and it is now contributing to the economic development of the entire Umzinyathi District. We are informed that hotels and other accommodation establishments in Dundee and surroundings are already fully booked in anticipation of this year’s Dundee July weekend on 14 and 15 July,” she said.

“In addition we are working with partners like Coastal Horse Care Unit who are training horse owners and jockeys on how to take better care of their horses such as what to feed the horses so that they are healthy and perform well. They are also empowering youth with other skills related to the horse racing industry. That is why we want to expand the rural horse riding programme to other areas in the Province because of its potential in contributing to economic growth and employment opportunities. We have agreed with the Department that our focus will be on developing sport in rural areas and to bring such development to where people live,” said MEC Sithole-Moloi.

The Nquthu RHR event featured a fashion show by local designers who are receiving training and mentoring from the KZN Fashion Council. A number of local designers and models will be selected to participate in the Dundee July Fashion Extravaganza in July.

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